Process and apparatus for distributing gas to consumers



March 2, 1926.

J. P. FISHER PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING GAS TO CONSUMERSzsheets-sheet 2 l 'I 'Il 'Ilfllfllllull Filed May 4. 1921 M 9 51W @wwwPatented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNiTED* STATES Parr-tru OFFICE.

JAMESP. FISHER, OF BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR` TO DOHERTY RE-SEARCH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING GAS TO CONSUMERS.

Application filed May 4, 1921.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. FISHER, residing at Bartlesville, in thecounty of lVasliington, State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Distributing Gas toConsumers; and I do heref by declare the follovvin@r to be a full,clear, and exact description oi? the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a process Vand apparatus for distributing gasto consumers and is particularly intended for use in connection with themethod of charging for gas which is known to the trade as the Dohertythree-part rate. Y

The Doherty three-part rate includes a customer charge, a demand charge,and a consumption charge. The customer charge is the same for allconsumers and represents the share of each consumer in those expenses,of the gas distributing company which depend only on the number ofcustomers served irrespective of the amount of gas used by them.Included among such expenses are the costs of meter reading and ofrendering bills. based on the outlay which those engaged in the businessof producing and distributing gas are required to make in order toenable them to supply each consumer at any time with all the gas hedesires to use. The sum of the demand charges is proportioned to theplant investment necessary for supplying the total maximum demand on thedistributing system. The expenses incident to plant investment areproperly apportioned to the consumers in proportion to 'their maximumdemands, so that of two consumers having diiiierent maximum demands, theone having the larger maximum demand is required to pay the largerdemand charge. The demand charge is independent ot' the amount of gasactually used by a consumer over av given period, for exemple, one year,since, it a consumer should use gas but one day in the year, he wouldimpose upon those engaged in the business of producing and distributingthe gas the burden of making such provision in the Way of plantequipment as would enable them to serve him when and to the extent'thathe desired serv- The demand charge is Serial No. 466,761.

ice. The consumption charge is based on the amount of gas actually used,and is the same for all consumers per thousand cubic feet of gas. Thecustomer charge and the demand charge constitute together What mayappropriately be termed a readinessto-serve charge, as distinguishedfrom the charge for the amount of gas used.

In purchasing gas under a readiness-toserve charge which is larger orsmaller in accordance as his maximum demand is larger or smaller, it isof advantage to a consumer that his demand be limited to his actualrequirements in order to keep the demand charge at a minimum. Devicestor thus limiting the amount cf gas which a consumer can take from thesuppl `mains of a gas distributing syst-em are siown in the applicationfor Letters Patent of the United States of Earl S. Rush, Serial No425,196, tiled Nov. 19, 1920, and my application, Serial No. 424,144,tiled November 15, 1920, for fluid controlling mechanisms.

The process and apparatus ot this inven tion are particularly adaptedtor use in the distribution of gas under a readiness-to'- serve chargesystem inclusive oit a demand charge. To this end a feature of theinvention consists in limiting the amount of gas which a consumer cantake from the suppl. main and controlling the distribution of the gasavailable to the consumer so as to give a preference in the consumptionof the gas to certain of his appliances over other of his appliances,when the limited amount ot gas available is insur'licient to afford afull supply to all the appliances which he may wish to use. In this waythe consumer is assured of a full supply ot gas at ail times to thoseappliances the use of which is most imperalive, such, for example, as acook stove, and is enabled to keep down his demand charge by `using`other appliances, such, for example., as a tank heater or a furnace, attimes when the cook stove is not in use.

A further 'feature of the invention resides in limiting the amount ofgas which a consumer can take from the supply mains and regulating thepressure of the gas in accordance with the requirements o't' theappliance used by him.

Still other features ot' the invention relate to means for-limiting thedemand ot a consumer and means for automatically discon-V Cil tinui'ngkthe main flow of Agas, to certain of his appliances when necessary tocause gas to be delivered at suitable pressure to other ot hisappliances.

In the illustrated construction. the main tioiv ot gas to certain ot theappliances is cut off by a valveA which is arranged to keep a pilot ofthe appliance burning', it the appliance is equipped with :a pilot, ortopre-v Ais distributed in accordance With the invention; l t

Fig. 2 is a view inVA elevation oi a 'tank lieateinand'cool: stove andapparatus for distributing gas to them;

Fig. is a plan vieu7 ot the loiver member oic the `preferential devicetaken on the line 3 8 or" Piglet; v i

Fig. ,4 is a `sectional elevation of the preterentiall device taken onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the preferential device taken on theline- 5 5 of Fig. 4. -V

In the use ot" the invent-ion as illustrated in. Fig. 1, gas from thesupply main 10 passes to the piping- 11 of the dwellingthrough a volumemeter 12 of conventional torni and a combined pressure regulator anddemand limiting devife 13 of the character shown in my above-mentionedapplication, Serial No.v #124.14% ris shown, the piping 11 is arrangedto supply gas to the itolloiving appliances; lights 14 inall of therooms. the furnace 15 which heats the radiators 16 through the medium otsteam or hot Water, a cook store 17, a tank heater 18,

bed room, and a heater 2O in the bath room.

In purchasing gas at a price which inchicles a iixed charge per thousandcubic feet ot njas used and la demand charge which varies with themaximum rate kat Which gas is Withdrawn vfrom the supply main, theminimum cost toI a consumer for a given amount of gas lwould obviouslybe obtained when the gas was burned at the lowest possible maximum rate,or, in other Words..

when the consumers hourly consumption of gas approximately equalledV thelimits set by his demand. In order, therefore, for a consumer to obtainthe amount of gas required by himzat theleast cost,rit is necessary orhim to 'forego the use of all of his gas burning' appliances at any onetime and to utilize certain of his appliances at some periods of theday, and-other ot his appliances at certain other periods of the day. Inmany cases a consumer canobtain satisfactory service With a demand limitapproximately equal Vto the rate of the consumption of gas in that oneot his appliances which has the largest gasconsumine' capacity. Forexample.in a dwellingsuch as is illustrated in Fin'. 1. the consumer mayobtain satisfactory service at low costby adopting a demand limit whichis little more than that required to ailord a full supply ot las to thecool; store 1,7. ln such an event the supply otgas Will besumcienttopermit .theetlieient use .o'l the cookv stove and the ligrhts 1st at thesame time. inasmuch as the .capacity cot the lightsis relatively small.At such times as the consumer desires tofvuse .all ot thegaspermissibleunder his rate tor cookingorr for cooking; and linjliting7 little or nogas would be burned in theturnace 15 .or the heaters 19 and Q9., Thenthe.v use of thecool stove is no longer` required, as when a meal hasbeen prepared. the furnace 15 may bestarted up, or in the event thatspecialheating is desired in the living); room or thebathyroom, theheater 19 or Q0 or both may bevlighted. Vllhevcooli stove 17 will .notordinarily be operated forany long period so that theinain heating'`ottlie house may lbe conveniently eifectedwhon the cook stove is noti inuse, ,and the radiatorsv 16 may be relied upon to`v` maintain thetemperature ot the dwelling until a supply ot njas is again available tothe furnace, 15 and heaters 19 and ,20. rl"hetankheaten 18 may,Y Withoutinconvenience,' be employed onlyat times when gas ,is not being'consumed either in the coolrstove 17er ,the `furnace 15.` It isessentialthat certain ol" the burning appliances .in a dwelling' shallbe capable .of ellicient use Whenever it may be desired to use them.vThe above is true, for example, of the cool; stove and ofthe lights inthe various rooms ot ,the dwelling. Y Consevquently,-it' 4the supply ofgas which a, conheaters 19 in the living` room and adjacentsimultaneously, -it Vbecomes necessary, in case mostl or ally of theother appliances are turned on; at a time when, thezconsunier wishes ,touse the cook stove 17, that the tioW eteas ,to .sement the appliancesshall be restrictedor discontinued. l

y ByA the usentthis inveiitioiragas consinnerl is lenabled vto obtainetlicient service troni certain Othis appliances at all times Withoutthe necessity.. ot` tui1iin, g` otlv1 other appliances which he may havein use. In

the illustrated construction, this is effected by devices 21 which areinsertedin the piping leading to the appliances of least imperative useand which automatically restrict the flow of gas to such appliances whennecessary to cause gas to be delivered at suitable pressure to otherappliances. As shown, devices 21 are installed in the piping leading tothe furnace 15, the tank heater 18, and the heaters 19 and 20. Thedevices 21 are constructed so as substantially to discontinue the liowof gas to the furnace 15. the tank heater 18, and the heaters 19 and 2()when necessary to cause a full supply of gas to be delivered to the cookstove 17 and lights 14. For convenience in description, the devices 21may be termed preferential devices]7 and the appliances which areassured of a full supply of gas at ally times may be said to bepreferred over the other appliances. The lights 14 are preferred notonly because it is not ordinarily convenient to subordinate them in useto other appliances but also because eliicient illumination,particularly when natural gas is burned, cannot te obtained at lowpressure with the lamps now on the market.

For the sake of clearness of illustration the volume meter 12, thecombined pressure regulator and demand limiting device 13, and thepreferential device 21, as shown in Fig. 2, are of exaggerated size inproportion to the cook stove 17 and tank heater 18.

The combined pressure regulator and demand limiting device 13 (Fig. 2)comprises a housing provided with an inlet 22 and an outlet 24. Theframe struct-ure of the housing is shaped inwardly of the inlet 22 toform an inlet chamber 26 communicating with a channel 28. The channel 28is separated by an upper wall 30 from the lower portion of a diaphragmchamber 32 and by a lower wall 34 from passages 36 extending downwardlyfrom the diaphragm chamber 32 at each .side of the channel 28 andmeeting below the wall 34. i

The housing of the device 13 is formed to provide an outlet conduitcomprising a chamber 38 communicating with the outlet 24 and demarcatedfrom the channel 28 and the passages 36 by a wall 40 and from thediaphragm chamber 32 by a wall 42. An opening in the wall 42 allows gasto pass from the diaphragm chamber 32 to the outlet chamber 38. From theforegoing,` it will be understood that the course followed by gas inpassing through the device 13 is from the inlet chamber 26 and channel28 to the diaphragm chamber 32, either directly or through the passages36, and then through the opening in the wall 42` to the outlet chamber38.

As hereinbefore indicated, means is provided both for limiting the rateof flow of gas through the device 13 and for regulating the pressure atwhich gas is delivered from it. Preferably, and as shown, such meansincludes a double poppet valve 44 provided with a stem 45 and formedwith horizontally disposed circular flanges operable upon upwardmovement of the valve to close openings in the walls 30 and 34respectively. below the valve 44 with a screw plug allowing access to behad to the valve.

In order to cause the valve 44 to control the rate of flow of `gasthrough the device 13, utilization is made of the principle governingthe flow of fluids whereby if flow is restricted at a point in a fluidconductor, the withdrawal of Huid from one side of the point ofrestriction will cause the pressure of the. fluid on that side to becomeless than the pressure on the opposite side of the point of restriction.Moreover. when the iiow of is withdrawn from the conductor, the greateris the pressure differential on opposite sides of the point ofrestriction. In the illustrated construction, the means for applying theeuunciated principle includes a disc 46 inserted in the opening of thewall 42 and being formed with an orifice 48 of relatively small size soas to allow only a restricted flow of gas from the lower portion of thediaphragm chamber 32 to the outlet chamber 38 and thereby cause a dropin pressure in the outlet chamber 38 as gas is withdrawn from the devicethrough the outlet-24.

A weighted diaphragm 50 clamped, preferably, between the lower portionof the device 13 and a ring portion 52 is subjected on its under side tothe pressure of the gas on the supply side of the oritce disc 46, and aconduit 54 leading from the outlet chamber 38 communicates with theinterior of the ring 52 above the diaphragm 50 so as to transmit thepressure of the gas in the outlet chamber 38 to the upper side of thediaphragm. The Hoor of the outlet chamber 38 is formed with an openingnormally closed by a plug 56. Upon removal of the plug 56, this openingallows an orifice disc to be removed and another having a larger orsmaller openingto be substituted for it.

The valve stem 45 extends upwardly from the valve 44 and passes looselythrough an eye or the like (not shown) carried centrally by thediaphragm 50. The stem 45 of the valve is formed above the diaphragm 50with an enlarged portion of larger diameter than the opening vin theeye. The diaphragm 50 is weighted in the usual way to maintain itnormally depressed, thus allowing the valve 44 to occupy its 'fullyopened position. When, however, the gas pressure on the under side ofthe diaphragm 50 is sufficiently in excess of that on its upper side tocounter- The device is preferably provided- 85 Y fluid is thusrestricted, the more rapidly it .diaphragm 8is provided in the housingot' the device above the diaphragm 5t). As shown, the periphery ot thediaphragm overlies the ring. and is clamped thereto i by a. ring (3.0att-ached to the ring'by screws the like (notshoivnf). The diaphragm 58is loadeddiyv plates 62.. rlfhe valve stein is providedl at its top witha headadapted to `be received in a ,cavityv or chamber (sL in the plates(32 ot zgreater cross-sectional diii'ieiisions thanthe head.Y :The lowerplate (i2 V is formed with portion iinderlvingfthe headl ot' the valvestein and provided with a-n openingot greater diameter. than the`enlarged portion ot the valve stem to allow it to be raised..independentlyv of the plates 62 ordiaphragm 58. .liliththisconstructionVhoWever, when. the diaphragm 58 is raised,r the valveivillalsobe raised, i d A pliigt elosesthe cli-amber 6ft to prevent thepassageiot gas about the valve .stein to the space above the diaphrafifm58. The top of thedevice is preferably provided with a capGS havingOpenings (not shown) permitting theiipper side of vthe diaphragm 58 tobe. subjected to atmos iheric pressure,v interposedbetween thediaphragms 50 .and 58 and serving to define separate chambers fortliediaphragms isabatlie plate 7 0. The bafiie plate isitornied.centallyV with van openingfin. which ,the enlarged portion oitthevalve. stem 4,5' is loosely. received. This opening` acts to transmitthe. pressure ot' the gas; above .the diaphragm 50 to the under side ofthe diaphragnrS.

Tliepainannerof operation of the device 13 is as. follows:` ,5.

Assuming'. that the `device is installed in a pipe line of .a gasdistributing` `system but that, there is nonloiv ot gas throughvit, thepressure oi' the gas in the outlet chainberS' and oirtlie upperside ofthe diaphragm 50 equals the pressure on the under side of the`diaphragm, Consequently, tlie..di aphragm 50 Will be fully.depressed.andr it the `diaphragm .58` is. also depressed, -tlie valve44 ivill occupy. its Yfully opened position. .Thegas contained in thespace de-1 tiiiedby the diaphragms .'iOand 58. andring 52, exertspressure on the under side ot' the diaphragm 58, as ivell. as on the?dil aphragm 50. The maximum allowed pressure` oitl the ga", inthe outletchamber 38 is deterininedbv the Weight of the plates G2, valve ,44, andvalve stein 45 it being apn parent that` when .the pressure of `the .gasin the outlet chamber ,3 8 is,siitic-iently5 above atmospheric pressureto Ecounterbalance the Weight oft the above mentioned parts, the

specified. exists Whether gas is or is not flowing throughthe device.V i

Ita'aelatwely,small amount ot gas is Withdrawn from. the. outlet chamber38,: for example, bv reason ofthe ignition -ot'soine otthe lights 14, orthe heater :20, the. pressure inthe outlet chamber 58 ivill be slightly.de-creased asv compared ivith that 4in the loiver portion of thediaphragm chamber Bia., thusindi-icing`v arslight tioiv of gas throughthe-devise The pressure differential in the chamber 38 and the loiverportion ot *he diaphragm .chamber 32 isA transmitted to opposite ,sideso-i the diaphragm 54'). lhe maximumdifferential' across thediajiihragiii 50 and, consequently, the niariiniiin rate 'ot' i'ioiv`ot' gas through the device 1.3 .with an orifice 48 otra given size is;determined bv the V.Weight gon theA diaphra,ginJ ..50 plus, the Weightot the kvalve 44k andvalve stem 45. Solong as theflow of gas through thedevice 13 is below `the maximum rate,v `the diaphragm 50k ivillnot-operate to ,close the valve 414 iv-hich, under such conditions otiioivof as is under the cont-rol ofthe diaphragg ,08. inasinucllipasthestem 45 ot the via ,ditlipasses through theweye of the diaphr n i 50,=the valve 1 may be operated FF Y bv,,thealiaphragin 58 independently etthe diaphragm 50, i Y A l l l ftlie consumption of gas frointhe piping1.1 is increased, for erampie, by,turningon the eoolrstoae 17theinaxinium differential ina, f fbeset. iip.aeross the diaphragm 50,thus marking the lmaximum rate oioivoi gas through the device. rIherapid livithdra,Wal of gas trom the outlet-Vj chamber 3 8 incidental,tfrthe4 establishment oi" the maximum rateottloiv otggas through thedevice causes the pressure in the outlet chamber 38 and, consequently,onjthe upper and louter lsides ot the-diaphragms 50 and 58 respectivelyto be relativelvsmall. As a resiilt,.the diapliragin 5 8 .will,oceiipvAits loivern'iostpositioiiiinder. theaeton ot the weight ot the partsassociated with it. The diaphragm-58 operates.. at all-tiniesto preventthe pressure ot' thegas in the outlet chamber 38 from exceedingv ajpreiileterniined degree and 'turtherV tends,.so` long as thepressiireonthe inlet side` ofthe device exceeds the .pressure at which the device,set to deliver and the rateoffloivof `gas isbeloiv the predeterminedmaxiniiinnto maintain, the gas in the oiitlet,.chlanxiber ata-constantpressure, inasmuchvfasithediaphragm 58 will be depressed in the eventthat the pressure of the gas in the outlet chamber 384 fallsk beloiv theprescribed degree, thus openina'the valve ist moreividely .andenabling`a larger ioiv ot' through the device. y j lili-oni the foregoing. itvill'be. understood that when the tloiv of gas through the del.ivill'fitend to close. Y- The. tendency` CIJ lli)

Lic

phragm' valve.

vice 13 tends to exceed the maximum rate determined by the weight of theload on the diaphragm 5() plus the weight of the valve 44 and valve stemr45, the upper diaphragm 58 is no longer operative to control the valve44, the action of the valve being then governed entirely by thediaphragm 50. In the event of movement of the valve 44, in preserving auniform flow 0f gas, the enlargement of the valve stem 45 moves upwardlyand downwardly in the cavity 64 in the lower plate 62.

If, after the maximum rate of flow had been established through thedevice 13, other of the appliances connected with the piping 11 wereturned on, and no means were provided for controlling the flow of gas tothe appliances from the piping 11, the result would be to decrease thepressure of the gas in the pipingcll in accordance with the capacity ofthe appliances being used. In this way the pressure of the gas in thepiping 11 might be so reduced as to prevent the eiiicient use of any ofthe appliances served by it. Vhenever the rate of flow of, gas afterhaving attained the maximum, degree is reduced below such degree, thevalve 44 again comes under the control of the pressure regulatingdiaphragm 58.

The maximum allowed rate of flow of gas through the. device 13 may beincreased by adding to the weight yof theload on the diaphragm or byemploying a disc 46 having a larger orifice than the disc previously inuse. Likewise, the pressure at which gas 1s delivered from the deviceAmay be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the load onthe diaphragm 58.

Ilach of the preferential devices 21 is of substantially circularcross-section and comprises av lower member 72 vformed to provide aninlet conduit 74 at one side of the member and an outlet conduit 76opening upwardly through the central portion of the member. A diaphragm78 overlies the member. 72 and serves as a valve to lcontrol the flow ofgas from the inlet conduit 74 tothe outlet conduit 76. The diaphragmvalve 78 is weighted by a plate 8O which retains it normally in closedposition but which permits the `valve to be opened by the pressure ofthe gas l'in the conduit 7 4 when it exceeds a degree predetermined bythe weight of the plate 80. Preferably and as shown,'thenoutletconduit76 is projected upwardly above the adjaccntportions of the member 72, asindicated at 82, so as to provide.-anannular chamber 84 surrounding theoutlet conduit 76 and communicating, with the `inlet conduit 74.

.The chamber 84 causes ythe pressure` of the gas on the inlet sidentthedevice-Ql to be Y .transmitted equally to the diaphragm valve 78 onall sides ofthe outlet conduit 7 6, thus conducing. ,to

aproper.action/I otfthe dia- Superimposed on the member 72 and theIdiaphargm valve 78 is a member 86 formed to provide a chamber 88. Thechamber 88 communicates with the atmosphere through an opening 90 sothat the upper side of the diaphragm valve 78 is subjected toatmospheric pressure. The lower member 72, diaphragm valve 78, and uppermember 86 may conveniently be maintained in assembled relation by meansof screws 92 fitted in ears 94in the members 72 and 86.

If the supply of gas were entirely shut oli' from a gas burningappliance thus causing the flame to be extinguished at the appliance,and if the flow .of gas to the appliance were afterward automaticallyresumed, unburned gas would escape from the appliance. In order toprevent such a condition from arising in the use of the appliance21,'the wall 94 between the conduits 74 and 76 of the device is formedwith an opening 96 adapted to permit a small flow of gas at all timesfrom the inlet conduit 74 to the outlet conduit 76. The passage of gasthrough the opening 96 isl controlled by a valve 98. If the device 21 isassociated with an appliance provided with a pilot, the valve 98 of vthedevice will be set so as to pass suiiicient gas to maintain a flame atthel pilot. If, on the other hand, the appliance with which the deviceis associated is not provided with a pilot, the valve V98 will be set soas to pass at all times an amount of gas sutlicient to maintaink a lowflame in the burners of the appliance I and to assure that'the flame inthe appliance will not be extinguished.

So long as the pressure on the inlet sides of the devices 21 is greater.than that equiva llent to the weights of the plates 8O on the diaphragme78,V the diaphragm valves will be raised from their seats, thus allowingunimpeded flow of gas through the devices 21 to the rappliancescontrolled by them. The gas burning appliances ordinarily employed inv adwelling may be operated etliciently with pressures as low as 2 ciwater. .It may be assumed, therefore, that the diaphragm valves 78 otthe preferential devices 21 are weighted so as to remain open llO unlessthegas pressure in the piping falls n below 2 Vof water. lVhen the.pressure tends to 'tall below 2 ot water the iow of `gas to the furnace15, tank-heater 18, and heaters 19 and 2O is restricted `by the devices21 `so that the piping 11 will at all times supply gas at. suitablepressures tothe cook stove 17 and lights 14. If necessary to maintainthe gas in the piping l1 at a presysure ,such as to permit4eilicientvuse of the lights 14 and the cook stove 17, thediaphragnrvalves 78 of the devices 21 will be entirely closed so as todiscontinue the main fiowof; gasltosuch of the appliances 15, 18,

l119, and `2O as may be turned on. Insueh a case gas `.will .continue topass Vthrough `the opening J6 of the preferential device associatedu'ithtlie appliance in use to an extent suliicient to maintain a Vflamein the appliaiicc.

lilith the construction described above, it will be seen that the,pressure regulating and demand limiting device 1S Will deliveiI apredetermined volume of gas under a uni- Ytorin pressure to the pipingll at all times when the amount ofgas being .burned does not exceed thedeii'iand limit of the device 123. .at such times as the4 amount of gasbeing burned tends to exceed `the demand limit, the cool .stove l? vandlights la will receive the preference, and the valves 78 ot' the various.preferential devices 2l `ivill partiallyv or 'coinpletelv''close,` sothat the lflame vof any appliance `connected therewith will be decreasedand niaybe reduced to a low iiilotllaine. As some of tlie 'burners oftthe cook stove, ,OifeXainp/le, are closed, the pressurein the line 1lmay be `built up to sucliY a stage .that sutlicient gas `will beadmitted through the preferential devices to operate Athe Acontrolledappliances at :halt ot their capacity, if no completely. By usingWeights 8O of various sizeson `the diaphragm valves 78 o t thepreferential devices the tank. `heater 18 or the room -lieaters 19 and2O may be Diveii preference over `the 'tui-nace. "ln tliis ivay 1uponincrease in pressure in the piping 1l, tne tank heater burner would *bestarted up vbefore gas would be supplied to the 'burner ofthe `furnace.i i Y Bytliis arrangement also it will be vapparent, for example, thatit the cool; stove and the furnace burners Were turned on at .the sainetime, the cook stove ,would have the preference and `might burn as up tothe demand limit. It `the coolvstove isiturned on vyliile tlic'turnaceis being used, tlic combustion o't' gas in the `furnacel ivill bedecreased automatically and may lbe coii'ipletely discontinued except't'or the ,pilot tlaiiie. This condition will obtain until the stove isturiiedjoii. jp'liercupon the burner otthe furnace will iiniiiediatebV7be lighted and continue to `burn until -the burner is closed or someother apparatus 'having preference over tlie-turiiace 4is turnedfoiif Bvtliis iiieaiis Ait ivillbenoteltliat the ,operation-ot thevarious'burners is automatic and does iiotii'eed attention, Piovisioii,gfurtlier, is inadeso thatthe automatic operation oli the csc-ape.

Ha viii ffullv desc bedtlie inv-ent ioiiivlia t is claimed is;

l'. A process oi distributing- -gas to oo n- Asinners under areadiness-toiserve charge s vst-ein -Yvvhicjli includes limiting -tlieTrate of .which-a Aconsumer can ten'ipts to use gas atarate above said,.liniit.

2. A; ,process of distributing `gas to `consumers .under areadiness-to-serve charge system ivliich includes limiting the amount ofgas ivliiclitlie consumer cantake from the supply mains, delivering thelgas to the consumer at a uniform pressure in all 4amounts up to tlielimit of tlie demand, and controlling the flow of' gas to the appliancesof the consumer so Vas to assure an yadecpiate flow ojt gas to certainoit' said appliances at all `tinies regardless of `ivlietlier the amount`ot' g1 ,c available to the kconsumer 'is'sulticient to fa-tord Aa ullsupply to of ,the appliances ivliich the consumer may have in'use at aparticular time.

3. processV of v4distributing gas to consumers runder a,lreadiness-toserve .charge system vvliicli includes limiting theindividual demands ot the tconsinners.and controlling tlieH/istributionof the gas available `to `aconsuine-i so as to give a `prefer-ence inthe .consumption Ofiliegas toertan Off -fhiS appliances over other ofliis appliances .ivlien vthe,amount of gas available to tlieconsumer isinsuicient A to aiiord -a full supply to all ojf the applianceswhichtlieconsuiner lias in use.

l. A process o 'f distributing vto consumers @which Aincludesautomatically liiniting-tlietainonnt of gas ivliich a consumer can .takefrom the ,supply means in .a definite unit vof time and substantiallydiscontinu-ing the flow of gas tocertvain of the appliances of 'theconsumer, ,when the amount of gas available to vtlie lconsumer isinsufficient to afford a 'full .Supply .t0 all of .the ,appliancesivliich tlieconsiuner'lias in use, in order to ca .use gas`to"bedelivered at asuitable pressure ,toother l of the consumersappliances.

5. A method 4of distributing gas to Vconsumers under a lreadinessftoserve charge system including va fixed charge in accordance with alimited .volume ot which may besupplied iii a definite unit ojt time,anda charge in accordance -ivitli the actual volume of ,gas used,.comprising conveying the gas ,through-supply mains at a comparativelyjhigli pressure,,reducing the pressure ,ofthe gasfrom the supply mains,and dc- .livering it at a Vsubstantia'lly uniform .pressure Witliin thepiping ot the consumers, and

Y .automatically 'limiting the volume oit gas burners will \be sate and;noti;ieiinit vgas vto certain of said appliances when the amount of gasavailable to the consumer is insutlicient to afford a full supply of gasto all the appliances which he has in use, and a housing for said valveconstructed to allow a small amount of gas to pass to the appliancecontrolled by the valve when the valve is closed.

7. An apparatus for distributing gasto consumers comprising a supplymain, means `for regulating the pressure at which gas passes from thesupply main to the appliances of a consumer, means for limiting theamount of gas which the consumer can take from the supply main duringany given period of time, and automatic means for substantiallydiscontinuing the iioiv of gas to certain of said appliances when theamount of gas available to the consumer is insuiiicient to aiiord a fullsupply of gas to all of the appliances which the consumer has in use.

8. An apparatus fory distributing gas to consumers comprising a supplymain, meansk for limiting the demand of a consumer on the supply main,and means for automatically restricting the flow of gas to certain ot'the appliances ot' the consumer When necessary to assure an adequatesupply of gas to other of the consumers appliances.

9. An apparatus for distributing gas to consumers which comprises asupply main, means for limiting the amount of gas Which can be Withdrawnfrom the supply main to the appliances of the consumer during any givenperiod of time, and means for automatically and substantiallydiscontinuing the How of gas to certain of said appliances when theamountof gas available to the consumer is insuilicient to atiord a fullsupply ot gas to all of the appliances which he has in use, said meansbeing constructed to allow a small quantity of gas to pass at all timesto the appliance controlled by it.

10. An apparatus fordistributing gas to consumers which comprises asupply main, means for limiting the amount of gas Which can be withdrawnfrom the supply main to thel appliances of the consumer during any givenperiod of time, and a valve controlled by the pressure of the gas andoperable autoinatitally to restrict the flow of gas to certain of theappliances of the consumer when necessary to assure a full supply ot gasto other of his appliances.

Y ll. An apparatus for distributing gas to consumers comprising a supplymain, means for limiting the demand ot a consumer on the supply main,means for regulating the pressure at which gas is delivered to theappliances of the consumer, said regulating means being constructed tobe rendered inoperative When gas is Withdrawn from the supply main atmaximum demand, thus permitting the pressure ol' the gas to fall inaccordance with die capacity of the appliances being used, and meansassociated with certain or" said appliances for causing gas to bedelivered at suitable pressure 'to other of `the appliances.

12. An apparatus for distributing gas to consumers comprising a supplymain, a housing, means in the housing for limiting the demand of aconsumer on the supply main, means in the housing for regulating thepressure at which gas is delivered tothe appliances of the consumer,said regulating means being constructed to be rendered in operative whengas is Withdrawn from the supply main at maximum demand, thus permittingthe pressure of the gas to fall in accordance with the capacity of theappliances being used, and valve mechanism associated with certain ofthe appliances for substantially discontinuing the flow of gas to suchappliances, When necessary to cause gas to be supplied at suitablepressure to other of the appliances.

13. An apparatus for distributing gas to consumers comprising a. supplymain, mechanism for causing gas to be delivered nermally to theappliances of a consumer at a predetermined constant pressure, means forrendering the mechanism inoperative under certain conditions of flow of0as to said appliances, thus permitting the pressure at Which gas isWithdrawn from the supply mains to vary in accordance with the capacityo'f the appliances in use, and means associated with certain of saidappliances for restricting the tloiv of gas to said appliances to causegas to be delivered at suitable pressure to other of the appliances.

H. An apparatus for distributing gas to consumers comprising a supplymain, means for limiting the demand of a consumer on the supply main,and means for restricting the flow of gas to certain of the appliancesof the consumer when necessary to assure an adequate supply oi gas toother of his appliances, said means being adjustable to cause gas to bedelivered to some of the first-mentioned appliances in preference toother of such appliances.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES P. FISHER.

